Once Bitten

by Desconhecido

  Again she said something. The plea in her eyes was clear enough. She didn’t want him to hurt her.

  Warily, he held still.

  She fumbled with the control panel that restricted his chains, glancing often at the door with a dilated gaze. He couldn’t tell if it was pain or an effect of the pool that caused the unfocused look.

  She found the right command, and his chains dropped away. Hardly daring to believe it, he rubbed his wrists.

  She sagged to her knees. He caught her and carried her back to the bed. He’d been a strong youth even before the experiments and she would have been light anyway. Thanks to his immense new strength, courtesy of the demon pool, he felt like he was carrying a shadow.

  Groaning as he set her down, she caught his arm in a weak grasp. The words were foreign, but the entreaty in her expression tore at him.

  "I’ll help you," he had promised in Draconian. "I’ll repay this debt." He hadn’t been fool enough to think he could take her with him. There would be no hope if he tried to bring a sick child along. Their only chance would be if he could find someone of his own race to help. "I’ll find you again."

  Chapter 6

  She stopped eating, a fried tuber halfway to her mouth. "What?"

  Shaking the memories out of his eyes, he made a dismissive gesture. "Just an unpleasant bit of business I remembered. How do you like your dinner?"

  She blinked and looked at it, as if surprised to find she was eating. A frown gathered on her brow. "It’s ... good. And you’re as bad as Icky." She said it as if she’d just figured it out.

  A slow grin curved his lips. "How so?"

  "Feeding me. Tricking me. Managing people." Annoyance was sharp in her face.

  Domino laughed. "Why do you think we get along so well? Besides, sweetheart, you could use a little managing." Mischief glinted in his eyes. A little flirtation would do her good.

  Flustered color brushed her cheeks, and she glanced away, fixing her eyes on the musicians making the floor vibrate. Stylish veterans of the club and curious newcomers mingled below, flowing between the tables on the upper balcony and the dance floor. A few wandered into the game room, enjoying the pool and chess battles within. The atmosphere was relaxed and buoyant, and she watched it with the lost eyes of one who didn’t know how to belong.

  Surprised at her shyness, he lightened up a little. "Do you like them? They’ve become popular this year. By the next season, even Earth will have heard of them."

  "It’s an exchange for you, isn’t it? Sponsoring an upcoming band, then trading on each other’s success to enhance your status." The thoughtful frown warned she was taking his light question much farther than he’d intended.

  A vague annoyance settled deep, mixing with rampant curiosity. Save for his sisters, he never took relationships with women too seriously. She was making this more challenging than it had to be. "I pay them, of course. And yes, we trade on each other’s fame. That’s the nature of business."

  ‘Business’ seemed to be a magic word for her. A confidence settled about her, and she visibly relaxed. Unwittingly, he’d stumbled onto something she could relate to.

  It annoyed him.

  Oblivious, she said coolly, "I do the same thing with my mutant relief project. It’s surprising how getting the right names on board--"

  "Do you dance?" Pushing away his drink, Domino stood and took her hand, pulling her to her feet. He was not going to let this discussion degenerate into a board meeting. Nights were for fun, and he was going to have some.

  Bali sent an anxious look toward the dance floor. "No. I’m--"

  "I’ll teach you." Sliding from the booth, he took a firm grip on her hand and towed her toward the stairs.

  Suddenly breathless, likely with nerves, she protested, "I have awful reflexes, Domino. You’d be happier with someone else."

  The band changed to a slow ballad with sweet bass. Ignoring her jitters, he pulled her into his arms. "Relax. We’ll go slow. I promise not to bite." He gave her a cocky grin.

  Bali’s blood was steaming. No man had ever taken her in his arms. Certainly no one had stood so close. When he slid his knee between hers and rocked them to the sultry beat, she stumbled and nearly swallowed her tongue. Fire shot from the point of contact straight to her stunned brain. A fine tremor shook her.

  "What’s wrong?" Curiosity glimmered in his dark gaze, but he didn’t release her or lose the beat.

  "I...." Tongue-tied, she looked down to escape his eyes. It didn’t help. A few more centimeters and she could rest her cheek on that chest. If it felt anything like his arms and waist, it would be solid steel. Another shiver wracked her.

  Murmuring something reassuring, he placed his hand on the back of her head and gently closed the inches between her head and his chest. Holding her close, he stroked her nape and back in a soothing rhythm.

  Certain she was going to die of sensation, she closed her eyes and tried to come to grips with her feelings.

  Domino knew what he held. Innocence. Sweet passion. If he wished, seduction. It had been a long time since he’d encountered something that pure. When had he grown so jaded? Bali might be a woman, but she’d never played with fire. For a Draconian, it was pure temptation.

  Feathering a kiss over her hair, he told himself to watch out. She was damaged. Her father had probably killed what little trust she had of men. Icky must have fought like crazy to give her as much confidence as she had. As it was, she could be easy prey, whether he wished it or not.

  Others might not be so scrupulous.

  His fangs ached. That rarely happened, and he was used to the most sensual of women. Taking it as the warning it was, he eased her off his chest, but he didn’t release her. Arms locked around her back, he enjoyed the mellow arousal flowing between them. "What are you doing tomorrow?"

  "I ... hadn’t decided." Her answer was faint, matching her unfocused expression.

  Glancing upward to conceal his smile, he casually suggested, "Spend the day with me. It’s been some time since I shared the sights with anyone."

  Tension edged out boneless submission. Bali took a deep breath. "I wouldn’t want to put you out."

  "Good, then you’ll go with me. I’ll pick you up at nine. Where are you staying?"

  Chapter 7

  She wasn’t sure how, but Domino convinced her to agree. Then he had handed her into a transport, smiled, and wished her pleasant dreams. Now she paced her elegant room and analyzed his motives. Why, was the main question. If asked to bet, she would lay odds he wasn’t wildly excited by her. Curious, maybe. Perhaps he was simply doing a favor for Icki? That she could believe.

  When analyzing Domino’s motives proved fruitless, she flopped on the bed, clicked on the radio, and called Icki.

  The phone rang five times before he answered. "Icki," he said shortly.

  "It’s me." Bali heard a woman’s sleepy murmur in the background.

  His voice husky, Icki assured whoever it was, "It’s my sister." There was a rustle, then Icky yawned. "What’s up?"

  Bali’s lips quirked. "The dressing room attendant?"

  "Not tonight. How was your day?"

  Suction released, jars rattled, and there came the sound of glass scraping over a grid. She could almost see the insides of his fridge. Icki was snacking, which meant he was settling in for a long chat. She hugged a pillow under her chin and leisurely kicked her heels in the air. "Where do I start? The guy at the spaceport took one look at my leather and accused me of being a hooker. I fainted outside Domino’s club, had water thrown in my face, then got hauled to his table by his bouncer. You didn’t warn me that Tantalus was a steam bath, Icki."

  He was laughing and choking on his drink. "Mercy, girl! Why didn’t you just waltz in naked? Talk about making an impression." The coughing died down, but he still sounded amused. "Was he interested?"

  Reluctant to admit anything, she let the moment drag out. "He danced with me, but I think it was because he was bored."

  "Oh?" The
re was a wealth of interest in that one word.

  "Mm. He’s picking me up to go sightseeing tomorrow." Just the thought of it made her blush. It wasn’t a real date, but it felt like one.

  Icki crowed. "Hah! I knew you’d hit it off. You’re just his type."

  He sounded so smug she wanted to hit him. "He’s just doing you some kind of favor." She sounded petulant and hated it. "There’s no real interest there."

  Icki’s silence sounded thoughtful. "No reason why he should. Tell me the truth--can you see yourself kissing him?"

  Heat flashed through her insides, making her breathless. "The subject didn’t come up." Bali winced at the difference in her voice. No way would Icki miss it.

  She could almost see his deep, knowing smile.

  "Don’t expect him to ask first," Icki warned. "Dracs don’t. Domino’s a conqueror to his core. Keep that in mind when you get involved. For him, ‘possessive’ and ‘women’ go together. He’s not going to want to let you go."

  Uneasy, she sat up, still hugging the pillow. "You’re jumping way ahead. We don’t know that’s ever going to happen. Right now I’m a curiosity, a friend of a friend. And you can’t tell me he’s in the habit of keeping women around long. He’s too much like you."

  "This is different." He sounded annoyed. "Under the circumstances, he’s not going to play with you, and that’s what we want. Dracs don’t go around biting just anybody."

  Afraid to ask, she let it go. Guilt already rode her hard over this biting thing. Maybe it was the necessary intimacy involved. It was scary enough without walking through a play-by-play of what might happen. Her voice flat, she said, "I’d better get some sleep."

  Gently, he said, "Don’t stay up worrying, hon. He’s not going to break your heart." He disconnected.

  She sat there, holding the phone, and prayed he was right.

  Chapter 8

  Domino walked into the cool hotel and sucked in his breath. Bali was waiting for him, and she was a vision to still a man’s heart.

  A beaded blue slip with matching fringe at the bottom hugged her body from bust to mid-thigh. Strappy sandals laced up her calves, enhancing their delicate curves.

  Someone must have told her about the social rule of braided hair--on Tantalus women were judged promiscuous if they refused to wear braids. The bare minimum of two braids tipped with azure beads fell to her shoulders in front of her ears. The rest of her hair was twisted up and secured with sapphire crystal hair sticks. Most provocative of all was the cerulean gauze cape that floated around her body like a mystical cloud. The throat clasp was formed of sequined, blue lace motif frogs. A matching motif adorned the top of her hood, which was pulled over her luscious hair. He stood cemented to the floor, staring with a rising hunger.

  Bali laughed self-consciously and twirled her sunglasses in her hand. "It’s a little much, I know, but it is cooler than leather."

  Domino blinked. "Turn around," he managed hoarsely. It was worse than he thought. The fringe drew attention to the sweet curves just above it, and the cape’s swirling folds excited with the glimpse of the coyly visible body beneath. She was going to cause a riot, and he would have his hands full.

  Aware of her questioning, vulnerable look, he cleared his throat. His voice came out an octave lower than usual. "Beautiful. You should have warned me. I’d have come armed." At her puzzled look, he explained, "Men are going to rush us."

  Pink whispered across her cheeks, and he felt his heart lurch. In self-defense, he placed a light hand at her back and escorted her to the door. "You’ve challenged me. A dress like that deserves an unforgettable day. Let’s see what I can do to live up to it."

  He took her to an amusement park surrounded with a carefully maintained jungle of exotic fruit and spice trees. When her pink, full lips parted in wonder at the glorious scents and riotous colors, he quickly plucked a berry from a hedge and popped it in her mouth. It was either that or tip up her chin and slip his tongue between her lips.

  That gown was killing him.

  Laughing, she chewed the berry, then licked her lips, staining them an inviting red. Suppressing a silent groan, he quickly offered her another. To his surprise, she plucked it from his fingers and pressed it to his mouth. Slowly, he took the fruit between his teeth, trapping her fingers within his hot mouth for long seconds. Her eyes flared, and her chest began to rise a little too fast.

  "Um, your eyes are glowing," she said skittishly.

  He didn’t doubt it. He sucked lightly on her fingers, then reluctantly let them go. "Small wonder. We’d better move on." Before he led her off into the trees and explored the unconscious invitation in hers.

  Elegant and whimsical shops and concession stands lined the cobbled street. Domino let her browse, then escorted her to a building labeled, "The Crystal Gardens" in three languages. He slipped a token in the collection box and opened the door for her, his eyes on her face.

  Bali gasped. It was like a cave. Pastel lights illuminated an enchanted garden of hand blown glass and crystal. Fully detailed trees in colored glass lined the smooth path, and flowers on stems so fine she marveled that they didn’t break supported blooms of breathtaking design. Tiny lights like stars twinkled above their heads, and a yellow crystal half-moon slowly traced the sky. As they watched, the brilliant colors of dawn chased away the moon, followed quickly by a fuchsia sunset. Chords from a hidden symphony switched from the light, ethereal music of their entrance to wild chords mimicking nature’s power.

  Suddenly fire engulfed their feet and the path they walked. Bali screamed and backed into Domino, who wrapped his arms around her protectively. She felt him shaking, and whipped her head around to glare. "You could have warned me about the hologram, you slug!"

  He grinned wolfishly. "And ruin the effect? Watch." The flames slowly died and the path seemed to fall away, leaving racing clouds beneath their feet and a dizzying expanse of blue. She swayed with vertigo, and his arm tightened around her.

  The clouds transformed into a pink mist that curled around their legs and slowly colored the air. Tiny pink and lavender butterflies fluttered about them, joined by red hummingbirds. The music turned dreamy....

  Domino slowly turned her, smiling faintly as his eyes brushed her mouth. He tilted his head slightly, met her gaze.

  Icki was wrong; they do ask, Bali thought faintly. But was she ready?

  No. Abashed, she looked away and swallowed. Shame washed over her, and she didn’t understand why.

  His hand gently cupped her jaw. Respectful of her privacy, he didn’t force her to look at him, only offered comfort. "Easy, love. I’m not here to force your hand. I don’t mind when you tell me no."

  It was an aching whisper, a reassurance she’d never heard. Fighting the hitch in her breath, she nodded and hid her face in his hand, just for a moment. Slow heat flowed into her from the point of contact. Her reaction shook her. How could she want him mere seconds after fearing his kiss? Yet his scent, male, elemental, wreathed her head and made her dizzy. There was nothing coercing about the calloused hand cradling her cheek, and the knowledge intoxicated. No force, no pressure, just his fingers stroking lightly, encouraging without words.

  It went to her heart. Helpless to fight it, she turned her face and brushed her lips over his palm. Again. Emboldened by his low rumble, she let passion grab her hand and run. Greatly daring, she opened her lips and touched her tongue to his palm.

  Domino exhaled as if he’d been punched. Murmuring something in a foreign tongue, he bent his head--brilliant shades of red and pink flared around them, and suddenly vanished. While they’d been talking, the program had run its course. Now they faced a fish-eye shaped door. It spiraled open, prompting action.

  Domino’s sigh held regret. "Another time, sweetheart."

  Chapter 9

  He wasn’t as sanguine as he sounded. This thing between them was dangerous. Her vulnerability and shy sensuality were a lodestone to his protective instincts. When she looked at him with the eyes of a lo
st child, he wanted ... too much. It was time he got back his perspective. She wasn’t here for that.

  They stepped through the door. Seconds later, his fine resolution was shot all to pieces.

  Bali took one look at the tunnel under the water and froze. Moments later, she was trying to back out a sealed door with surprising strength, her eyes wide with horror. He got in the way, braced with effort against her retreat. The amusements didn’t allow people to go back, just forward.

  "It’s green." She was panting with fear. Sweat stood out on her skin.

  He glanced at the water on the other side of the glass tunnel. Fish swam harmlessly by, uninterested in the drama inside. "It’s blue, love. Clear blue. Look again."

  She shuddered and waited long moments before opening her eyes a slit. They slammed shut again.

  Her fear hurt and dragged him back in time to Itara’s lab. Rage swamped him, and he wanted to kill her father.

  "Blue, you say?" Bali’s question wavered, though she infused it with a humor that was endearing. "My mistake." She drew in a shuddering breath and looked again. "I can do blue." It was clear she was fighting to believe that as she calmed by force of will.

  A pride he had no business feeling swept him, and he tightened his arms before slowly releasing her.

  Pretending as if nothing had happened, as if she hadn’t suffered a panic attack moments before, she squared her shoulders and looked around with determination. "Nice fish. How long is this tunnel?" She started walking at a rapid clip.

  He caught up and threaded his arm through hers, slowing them both. Running away from her fears would never slay them, and this tunnel was as good a place to start as any. "You’re missing the coral. See that pretty formation over there? It reminds me of a cluster of pink cactus."

  She spared it a brief glance. "Very nice." Then she did a double take. "What the...?" Beyond the glass a figure was swimming closer. It took only moments to realize it was no fish. Domino looked away from the glass and watched the emotions play across Bali’s face. Shock, then a wariness settled in.